15 Ways to raise a healthy child

It is tempting to run for medication at the first sign of a fever, but licensed holistic health practitioner Carolyn Harrington, who is also founder of Maty’s Healthy Products, cautions against this.

“If and when you get sick and develop a fever, let the fever run its course. Bacteria and virus cannot survive at higher than normal temperatures. If you quickly reduce the fever by taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen, you may feel better, but you handicap your immune system by eliminating one of its strongest weapons,” Harrington says. “Of course, if a fever gets too high, above 104 degrees (F), a doctor should be consulted.”

Babies or children with certain conditions will need fever-reducing medication much earlier than 104 degrees F (young infants as low as 100.4 degrees F), so talk with your doctor about when you should give your child medications.

“Give your children chores that are age and ability appropriate,” says Margaret Briem, author of The Parent Plan: A Guide to Intentional Parenting. “Children need to contribute to their community and they learn to do that by starting with contributing at home.”

“Studies show that getting enough sleep at night not only strengthens the immune system, it also helps control your weight,” Harrington says. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children ages 1-3 get between 12-14 hours of sleep, children ages 3-5 get between 11-13 hours of sleep and children ages 5-12 get between 10-11 hours of sleep.

Avoid telling kids to clean their plate or “take just two more bites.”

“Children are so intuitively good about eating — they stop when they’re full,” says Sophie Pachella, founder of EatStrong.com, who says she lets her daughter gauge how full she is. There is one stipulation: “She can’t say she’s done, then ask for cookies.”

“Watch for ‘at-risk’ behaviors and seek professional help when needed. These could be such things as drug and alcohol use, cutting or emotional issues,” Briem says. “Supervise your children when on the internet always. Internet use is always a risk when it comes to your kids.”

“You don’t need to spend a bundle of money on sports to keep your child active,” says personal trainer of Two Sisters Fitness Mariana Abeid-McDougall. “Do active living activities with your child, from dancing around the living room to going to the local swimming pool to just running around the playground.”

“If the pantry and refrigerator are filled with healthy foods, then the child won’t resort to eating donuts when he/she is hungry, but instead a healthy snack is a more possible choice,” says Melissa Hawthorne, M.S., R.D., L.D.

“Let them have free time. Don’t feel they have to be busy or involved in something every minute,” says Mary C. Pratt, of HandsonParenting.com. “They need time to use their imagination and explore their world.”